Narrative:
About 15 minutes after takeoff the crew heard a loud bang. Both hydraulic systems and cabin pressure were lost, so the crew declared an emergency and returned to Washington. The landing gear was lowered manually, but the right main gear did not indicate down and locked. An emergency landing on a foamed runway was carried out. Investigation revealed that a damaged wheel lock-out deboost valve caused the brake of the right main gear to drag. The number 4 tyre caught fire and blew out during flight.
PROBABLE CAUSE(S):
personnel - maintenance,servicing,inspection: inadequate maintenance and inspection
airframe - landing gear: braking system (normal system)
miscellaneous acts,conditions - improper clearance-tolerance
miscellaneous acts,conditions - fire in brakes,wheel assembly,wheel well
FACTOR(S):
miscellaneous acts,conditions - landed on foamed runway
Tire failure
Brake problem
Forced landing on runway
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 8 August 1973 |
| Time: | 14:33 |
| Type: |  Boeing 727-171C |
| Operator: | Braniff International Airways |
| Registration: | N1728T |
| MSN: | 19860/599 |
| First flight: | 1968-06-27 (5 years 1 months) |
| Engines: | 3 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 75 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 81 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | near Washington, DC ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Washington-Dulles International Airport, DC (IAD/KIAD), United States of America |
| New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK/KJFK), United States of America |
About 15 minutes after takeoff the crew heard a loud bang. Both hydraulic systems and cabin pressure were lost, so the crew declared an emergency and returned to Washington. The landing gear was lowered manually, but the right main gear did not indicate down and locked. An emergency landing on a foamed runway was carried out. Investigation revealed that a damaged wheel lock-out deboost valve caused the brake of the right main gear to drag. The number 4 tyre caught fire and blew out during flight.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE(S):
personnel - maintenance,servicing,inspection: inadequate maintenance and inspection
airframe - landing gear: braking system (normal system)
miscellaneous acts,conditions - improper clearance-tolerance
miscellaneous acts,conditions - fire in brakes,wheel assembly,wheel well
FACTOR(S):
miscellaneous acts,conditions - landed on foamed runway
Classification:
Hydraulic system problemTire failure
Brake problem
Forced landing on runway
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Washington-Dulles International Airport, DC to New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY as the crow flies is 364 km (227 miles).
Distance from Washington-Dulles International Airport, DC to New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY as the crow flies is 364 km (227 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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